Things You'll Need:
- Cloth tape measure and/or string
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Step 1
Measure your head. Using a cloth tape measure or a piece of string, measure around your head at the widest area. (The tape measure or string should be placed above your ears when taking the measurement.) The resulting reading is your helmet size.
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Step 2
Go to a sporting goods store. You may want to ask for assistance to ensure the correct fitting. Give the employee the measurements that you took and he or she will help you to find the appropriate helmets. Try on a variety to see what you like. You should not purchase a helmet online without having first tried it on.
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Step 3
Decide whether the helmet is "good" or "bad." If the helmet is loose and does not fit snugly onto your head, then it is not a safe helmet. Move the helmet back and forth while it is on your head. If the skin on your forehead moves with the helmet, then it is a good helmet. If this does not occur, the helmet is not tight enough and it should be ruled out as an option.
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Step 4
Check to see where the helmet rests on your head. A good helmet will rest over your eyebrows, and it should be above your neck in the back. If this is not the case, the helmet is very possibly not safe. Keep in mind that safety is the most important issue. Color and design come after safety. A helmet should not have a better rating based on how "cool" it appears.
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Step 5
Check the helmet for vents and removable pads. Removable pads will allow you to adjust your helmet according to the weather while still keeping you safe. Depending on where you will be skiing, you may want to have ventilation in your helmet. Specifically, you will want to allow air to reach your head to keep you cool in warmer skiing climates. A helmet with this feature should be rated higher than those without.
